Letter to the Editor
Sounds of freedom
Published Wednesday, May 7, 2008
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To the editor:
Who are these that are whining about the sonic booms in our area? Don’t they realize the booms are a sound of their very freedom? They should be thankful that the booms are not bombs exploding on their house, killing theirs.
If it was not for our guys doing their jobs in our armed forces, regardless of the noise they make, those booms would be in our backyard!
Those that complain should rethink what they have and what those pilots are training for. It’s to protect them and theirs.
So be an American and be thankful for all we in these United States have and take for granted, and be grateful for those in uniform that do their level best to keep all of us free ... even whiners.
Community Discussion
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Agree completely.
"If it was not for our guys doing their jobs in our armed forces, regardless of the noise they make, those booms would be in our backyard!"
I live in town and haven't heard the sonic booms, so I have no opinion about how offensive they are. But isn't the complaint people make that the booms, in fact, *are* in their backyards? -- and not only there, but on their streets, in their cars, and in their houses?
I think the relevant questions are not whether "our guys [are] doing their jobs in our armed forces" or not, but (1) what are reasonable expectations of residents about their quality of life with two nearby military bases, and (2) what are reasonable precautions for the military to take to ensure that it remains a good neighbor?
Lorane,
I didn't get the memo that states that I have to like sonic booms in order to be an American. And by the way, the sound of freedom to me is everyone voicing their varied opinions on the topic of sonic booms and everything else.
People who complains about an occasional sonic boom, pack up and move to China, Cuba, North Korea. Then tell me if that sound of freedom, doesn't sound Great. Our troops are willing to pay the ultimate debt, that most American aren't willing to consider. So I say get over it. Enjoy the Sounds of Freedom. I truly do. Go Air Force and Army get all the training needed. I support your efforts and thank you for the occasional boom.
Ramster21,
How many more people like you are out there with the mentality that we have to like something you do or we should vacate the premises? It boggles my mind how many times I read that statement every week. Your intolerance annoys me, but you are free to stay.
I, too, agree with AKHusky, Ramster.
Your comments show intolerance and lack of dialog - however, I would fight for your right to voice your opinion even though I don't respect it.
When the hell did the 'sound of freedom' become a sonic boom anyway - - just a way to change the argument around to make all those against it seem unpatriotic! How sad.
Maybe a few more 'freedom isn't free' comments would convince me.
Akhusky- I am upset that it took me a half hour after ramster to agree with you, who posted only six minutes after his Merle Hagger 'if you dont love it leave it let this song be a warning to you' attitude. You are wayyyy to quick in the morning :)
I love my country, but that doesn't mean I have to love everything about it. I'm sure my wife would say something similar about me :)
Hmm, the sound of freedom? When no jets, guns, or bombs can be heard anywhere – the sounds of peace sound like freedom ringing to me.
I have traveled the world. I realise that there is a world outside of our borders. One thing that rings true among 99% of the people I have spoken with is that America is not the hated nation that we are portrayed to be. We are appreciated, we are respected, and to be honest, quite a few people feel bad that we are the only ones who step up to defend freedom elswhere in the world. I agree with all of you who say that the sound of peace is quieter than the sound of freedom, and a s a result, may be more palletable. Quiet is nice. Unfortunately, it is not "free" in the sense that it does not cost anything. I know that I live up here for specific benefits. One of them is the ability to travel 10 minutes in practically any direction, and be in the middle of nowhere. It is quiet, there are no people around, and I can gather my thoughts. If I have to listen to jets and booms for two weeks out of a year in order to live here and enjoy that, so be it. I for one applaud the airmen and the soldiers. Not out of some tear jerker sentimentality or Lee Greenwood "God Bless the USA" knee jerk reaction; I applaud them because they CHOSE to do a job that is required in order for us to live a life that we want. I will continue to quietly pick up the tab when I see these guys (and gals) in a bar, or if I can afford to buy them dinner anonymously, that is just my way of saying thanks.
I just wish I knew what the house shaking-baby crying-dog hiding- unnerving sounds and shakes were....I found out they were Booms when I read it in the paper. Now that I know, I dont mind.
Just a short while ago humans considered flight amazing, now we have faster than sound flight and people complain.
caseyinfairbanks
REALLY???? Do you hate us that much? Do you realize that the military boys and girls that you always complain about are 18-25 years old and are still immature, that's the reason for all the disruptiveness and DUI's, not saying its right... but there are also a BIG majority of us that have passed that stage and are law abiding, non driving while drunk military families who try to go out and support the towns and cities that we live in!!! So PLEASE stop telling us to leave "your" town! We aren't going anywhere anytime soon and a nice welcome to Fairbanks would be nice! Also, please don't forget that the young locals here are also immature and are just as responsible for their actions for the meth and dui's! I wish you could accept us and respect us but such is life... I have NO respect for you... Oh and if we ever find out where your business is be sure that we won't be supporting you!
Frozen_paint: Thank you from the bottom of my heart for the respect and honor you give our military boys and girls! We probably never get a chance to thank you and I know you don't do it for that reason. But it really means alot to them! I wish there were more people with good hearts!
SoaringEagle, I do it anonymously because it is important for all of you to know that just because someone is not on the table grandstanding doesn't mean that you are alone. There are alot of us out here that have your back and we prefer to do it anonymously. When push comes to shove, I get less anonymous... I know it means alot, and I am glad, that's why I do it. Maybe one day one of the pilots will catch me and "make" me go for a ride in one of the 16's...can I get a sonic boom out of the deal? :-)
Some of us are a little too quick on the draw to fall for your (not so nicely)engineered words, there Lorane.
"Sound of Freedom"--- to make it sound like raising concerns makes people either unappreciative of freedom or unpatriotic (i.e. "whiners")
Propaganda only works on those who don't want to think for themselves.
BINGO! This time you actually are right. Raising concerns makes people either unappreciative of freedom or unpatriotic (i.e. "whiners")
Now if y'all would just be quiet.
blazer--- Take another look at my statement re: propaganda.
Call it what you will. Raising concerns makes people either unappreciative of freedom or unpatriotic (i.e. "whiners")
Why is this hard to understand?
Do something nice for the troops. Sent them a care package!
Imusuallyright- No doubt Lorane Mobley is a Pentagon PR agent writing propaganda. Of course, if she is a citizen it would not be propaganda but a person challenging others to think, just as you are.
Does propaganda = disagree with you?
caseyinfairbanks speaks of how we all need to travel the world and be more open minded, presumably as he feels about himself. If all those places are so great, why did you come back? Because you knew that you where safe here?
Frozen_paint, your anonymous actions are appreciated more than words can express. Unfortunately for caseyinfairbanks, you are in the majority with the nearly 65% retired or former military resident population in Alaska. If they didn't actually train for war, we could just throw anyone in a cockpit and claim they were a fighter pilot. The problems with having untrained pilots are the consequences of losing air superiority when the shooting starts. Hang on, get low, and go fast, zoomies!
The sounds of freedom? I agree - they are marvelous.
What, though, are those sounds?
They are the sound of a high school senior who knows the Constitution of the USofA
They are the sound of a college undergraduate who knows her American history.
They are the sound of a US Congressional Representative who questions his party's leaders.
They are the sound of a US Senator who shows she understands a Senator's duty is to work for the best interests of the country, NOT her state, and certainly not for the deep pockets of those who would prostitute her for their own self-interests.
They are the sound of the teenager who determines to be the finest auto mechanic possible.
They are the sound of the businessman who determines to create the best product, to offer the finest service, the world will see.
Sonic booms? And by reference the cadre of current armsforcemen and women? Of whom, over 80% of the non-officers are there because a recruiter demonstrated they couldn't pass a fart in a baked bean factory, but the Army, Navy, Air Force or Marines would take 'em - THOSE are the Americans you would hold up as paragons of our nation?
The United States became great in spite of our armed forces, not because of them. We are failing, and falling, because of military adventurism now.
Cry, the Beloved Country.
MEL-- it would be a different story altogether if Lorane had "written" her letter to the editor. As it is, she is just repeating what she's heard---probably from some PR person in the Pentagon. Her words are engineered by someone else who hoped someone would be stirred enough by them to repeat them. There is nothing in her letter that I haven't heard over and over--- and in rebuttal, I'm forced to make my statement over and over.
I agree. It sounds pretty rote to me. Probably not from the Pentagon; perhaps from this newspaper?
Yeah, I've seen it a lot here...
If you're going to have a military, you have to let them train. And if you're going to let them train, then you have to let them make a whole lot of noise, whether its the sonic boom of a jet or the muzzleblast of an artillery piece.
In the whine of an F-16's engine, you definitely hear the sound of freedom, but you can also hear it in the whine of a NIMBY environmentalist. It's just too bad that one or the other is irritating according to your own political perspective, but you have to tolerate the sounds you don't like if freedom is to continue.
Imusuallyright- I have heard Marxist and Creationist, as well as Evolutionist arguments over & over again as well in this forum. Are they all controlled by the all knowing and all powerful Bushies who are reptilian Jewish aliens? Lose the conspiracy theory nonsense.
Face it, sonic booms and microwave ovens kick butt. The Bushies are not responsible for your failures, even though they have failed many, many times, at achieving their stated goals. They are simply lame.
Mel-
Did you want to get into Marxism/Creationism/Evolution? We can talk about it--- but I don't see the relevance. I'd be just as offended if Liberals were saying this stuff--- although I suspect they are not.
I've never argued about the booms themselves, just the rhetoric that implies that you should not voice concerns about them.
Thank you caseyinfairbanks. You have once again proven what elitists liberal are/am/is. A dead givaway is always how any mention of respect for the military can send one of you off on a longwinded rant. It's downright Pavlovian. Oh, kudos in finding the time to disrespect the POTUS as well. Ranting libs never fail to toss that into any discussion they can. So very predictable. Ah...if only we were all as worldly and enlightened as you. The world would be so perfect. So can I assume you are either supporting Monica's boyfriends wife or Obama in Novembers election?
I'm a "ranting lib" and I don't think I've ever mentioned the POTUS... everything that needs to be said already has. Good goal though: being as enlightened as us.
Know what sounds likes freedom to me? Coming home at night and hearing critters crawling in the woods...hearing the winds blowing through the trees...not hearing cars go by my house....that's Freedom.
We need to support the Military men and women who do what their bosses tell them to do whether they want to be gone from family and friends for 18+ months or not. That doesn't mean turning a blind eye to their crimes or letting them do what they please (sonic booms) where ever they see fit. If no one says anything about breaking the sound barrier then who can say anything about them breaking the age barrier with young high school girls, or the barrier dealing with drinking and driving.
Do not sit idle and let small "crimes" (for lack of a better word) go by unchecked or you will be dealing with larger crimes before you know it. Let me be extra clear about this. In no way am I inferring the Military is a bunch of criminals. It is a microcosm with the WHOLE spectrum of morals and classes....Just like Fairbanks, Anchorage, Alaska, The United States and the World.
No sensible person could type the stuff further up the forum...
I think it's absolutly rediculous that a wannabe activist can get on this forum and trash the military as he/she/it did. His/her/its mind is so distorted from who-knows-what that they believe the city's crime would vanish if the bases around here did?????
I guess free speech doesn't have to be thought out.
I'm at a loss for words.